Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-12-23
az want Mr.. Houston-Mr Alan Houston,'

y
sudden increase of Scotch accent testifying
TO fricndler feeling.
"Ihe very same" said John.
And the old butler removed his defenses
remarkng only, Il thocht we were that
man But his master was not there: he was
staying, il appeared, at the house in Murray
field, and though the butler would have been
glad enough to have taken his place and
given all the news of the family, John, struck
with little chill, was eager to be zone.
Only the door was scarce closed again before
he regretted that he had not asked about
"that man.
He was to pay no more visits till he had
seen his father and made all well at home
Alan had been the only possible exception
and John had not time to go as far as Muir
rayfield But here he was on Regents ter
race; there was nothing to prevent him going
round the end of the hill and looking from
without on tho Mackenzies' house As he
went he reflected that Flora must now he a
woman of near his own age and it was with
in the bounds of possibility that she was mar
ried but this dishonorable doubt he damned
down.
There was the house, sure enough; but the
door was of another color, and what was this
two door platesl He drew nearer; the top
one bore with dignited simplicity the words,
'Mr. Proudfoot;n the lower one was more
explicit and Informed the passer by that here
was likewise the abode of Mr. j. A. Dunlop
Proudfoot, advocate The Proudfoots must
be rich, for no advocate could look to have
much business in so remote a quarter, and
John hated them for their wealth and for
their name and for the sake of the house
they desecrated with their presence. He re-
membered Proudfoot he had seen at school,
not known; a little, whey faced urchin, the
despicable member of some lower class. Could
it be this abortion that had climbed to be an
advocate and now lived in the birthplace of
Flora and the home of Johns tenderest
memories? The chill that had first seized
upon him when he heard of Houstons alb
sence deepened and struck inward. For q
moment, as he stood under the doors of that
estranged house and looked east and west
along the solitary pavement of the Royal ter
race where not a cat was stirring, the sense
Of solitude and desolaton took him by the
throat and he wished himself in San Fran
cisco.
And then the figure he made, with his
decent portlness, his whiskers, the money in
his purse, the excellent cigar that he now
lighted, required to his mind in consolatory
comparison with that Of certain maddened
Lad who, on a certain spring Sunday ten
years before, and in the hour of church time
silence, had stolen from that city by the
Glasgow road. In the face of these changes,
it were impious to doubt fortunes kindness
All would be well yet; the Mackenzies would
be found Flora Younger and loveier and
kinder than BEFORE Alan would be found,
and would have 50 nicely Disseminated his
behavior as to have grown, on the one hand,
into valued friend of Mr.. Nicholson's, and
to have remained, upon the other of that
exact shade of joviality which John desired
in his companions And so. once more John
fell to work discounting the delightful future:
his first appearance in the family pew; his
first visit to his uncle Greig, who thought
himself so great fnancier and on whose
purblind Edinburgh eyes John was to let in
the dazzling daylight of the west and the
details in general of that unrivaled transfer
nation scene. in which he was to display to
all Edinburgh Il portly and successful gentle
man in the shoes of the derided fugitive
The time began to draw near when his
father would have returned from the Office
and it would be the prodigal's cue to enter
He stroled westward by Albany street, facing
the sunset embers. pleased. be knew not why,
to move in that cold air and INDIGO twilight.
starred with street lamps. But there was
Dne more disenchantrnent waiting him bv
the way
AT the corner of Pitt street he paused to
LIGHT a . csh cigar: the vesta threw. as he did
so. a strong LIGHT upon his features. and n
man of about his own age stopped at sight
of it.
II think Your name must be Nicholson"
said the stranger.
1t was too late to avoid recognition: and
lesiCles, as John was now actually on his way
home, it hardly mattercd. and he gave way
TO the impulse of his nature.
Great Scottr' he cried, "Beatsonm and
shook hands with warmth. 1t scarce seemed
lia was repaid in kind.
80 you're home againr' said Beatson.
where have YOU been all this lona timefn
IN the states" said John-"California
I've made my pile though: and it suddenly
struck me it would be a noble scheme to come
homo for Christmas"
Il see,n said Beatson. "Weu. I hone we'll
see something of Won now youre here y
"Oh. guess So" said John. a little frozen